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    Home » Chicken

    Spicy Grilled Chicken Wings

    Published: Jun 13, 2019 · Modified: Jul 16, 2021 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    683 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Spicy grilled chicken wings are everyone's favorite. Juicy chicken wings are marinated in hot sauce and grilled to perfection. Follow my step by step recipe for instructions to make these wings on your grill.

    Grilled chicken wings are delicious and simple to make. Learn how to make juicy and tasty spicy chicken wings on your gas or charcoal grill. 

    Summer is for grilling and we are making so many grilling recipes here at Unicorns in the Kitchen. From the best beef shish kabobs and grilled salmon kabobs to shrimp kabobs, it's all about the ingredients in the marinade. This grilled chicken wings recipe is one of our favorites because it has a delicious kick to it! 

    Table Of Contents:
    • Why this recipe works
    • The marinade
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Notes and tips
    • More grill recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    Why this recipe works

    When it comes to grilling, wings are one of my favorite things to grill. The skin gets crispy and charred while the meat is juicy and flavorful. These spicy chicken wings are so easy to make and you can marinate them up to 8 hours ahead of time. The longer they marinate, the more delicious they're going to be. 

    You can grill chicken wings on charcoal or gas grill. Wings are a crowd pleaser and they're perfect for a barbecue party along some tomato salad or grilled vegetables. I always make a big batch since I know everyone will come back for seconds. If you love wings, make sure to check out my Persian style grilled wings as well!

    A hand picking up a grilled drumette.

    The marinade

    • Hot sauce: One of my favorite sauces when it comes to spicy chicken wings is chipotle sauce. It's made from a rich blend of naturally smoked chipotle peppers. The smokiness adds so much flavor to the wings and is perfect for marinating. 
    • Honey: To balance the spiciness, I add a few tablespoons of honey to the marinade. 
    • Lemon juice: To add freshness and give the wings a bright flavor. 
    • Garlic: You can use less or more garlic if you like, make sure to mince them finely before adding them to the marinade.
    • Balsamic vinegar: To bring all flavors together add a bit of sweetness with acidity. 
    Ingredients to make grilled chicken wings are honey, balsamic, lemon, hot sauce, salt, garlic and olive oil.

    Instructions

    • Mix all the marinade ingredients in a large bowl and add the wings.
    • Mix well with a spatula or a pair of tongs and make sure each wing is fully coated in the marinade.
    • Cover and refrigerate marinated chicken wings for at least two hours up to 8 hours for maximum flavor. 
    paprika adds color and flavor to chicken wings.
    • Take the marinated chicken wings out of the fridge and place them on the counter to bring up to room temperature.
    • Turn the grill on and wait until it's hot.
    • Place the chicken wings on the grill and let them cook covered for about 10 minutes. Flip and let them cook for another 10 to 15 minutes until they are charred, brown and fully cooked.
    A plate of cooked chicken wings and a bowl of salad.

    Serving suggestions

    Grilled wings are the perfect party food. You can serve them with some tasty salads such as Mediterranean potato salad, cucumber tomato avocado salad or roasted vegetables. A few slices of toasted sourdough bread or warm dinner rolls would work as well. 

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use frozen chicken wings? 

    You can use frozen chicken wings for this recipe, simply make sure it's fully thawed before you marinate them. Frozen wings are usually more economical than fresh ones and there isn't a big difference in flavor. 

    Can I make this recipe on the stove?

    Yes, you can use a grill pan to make grilled wings indoors. To do so, make sure the marinated wings are at room temperature and the grill pan is heating over medium high eat. Place the wings in the pan and cook them untouched for about 15 minutes on each side. 

    How long should I grill the wings?

    Wings usually take about 25-30 minutes in total to cook completely. The skin on some might turn charred sooner than the others. Move those to the sides of the grill where they would keep cooking but won't burn. Grill the wings with the lid closed so the heat stays in. 
    You'll know the wings are cooked when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the wing registers at 165°F.

    Can grilled wings be frozen?

    Freezing grilled chicken wings will affect their flavor and texture. These are best served immediately when they're crispy and warm. That's when they have the best flavor. However, you can freeze the marinated chicken wings and thaw and grill them when you're ready to serve them. 

    Overhead shot of chicken wings topped with lemon with a side salad.

    Notes and tips

    • Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To serve, heat the oven to 350°F and place the wings on a baking sheet. Heat the wings in the oven for 15 minutes or until they're fully heated through. 
    • I used about 2 tablespoons of chipotle sauce for this recipe which provides a good spiciness. If you would like the wings to be spicier, add more sauce to the marinade. 
    • Don't flip the wings too many times while grilling them. Let them cook on one side for about 10 minutes and once you see the skin is charred, flip them and grill them on the other side for another 15 minutes. 
    • How many chicken wings per person? I usually make about 6 to 8 wings per person. If you have teenagers or very hungry guests, it's safe to go with 10 per person.

    More grill recipes

    • Best Grilled Spatchcock Chicken
    • Mediterranean Grilled Vegetables Recipe
    • Greek Grilled Chicken Recipe
    • Grilled Zaatar Chicken Recipe

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Spicy Grilled Chicken Wings

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Spicy grilled chicken wings are everyone's favorite. Juicy chicken wings are marinated in hot sauce and grilled to perfection. Follow my step by step recipe for instructions to make these wings on your grill.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Marinade 2 hours hrs
    Total Time 2 hours hrs 40 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 334 kcal

    Equipment

    • Gas or Charcoal Grill

    Ingredients
      

    • ⅓ cup honey
    • 2 tablespoon Chipotle Sauce
    • 1 lemon juice of
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 3 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 lb chicken wings

    Instructions
     

    • In a large bowl, mix honey, chipotle sauce, lemon juice, minced garlic, paprika, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and salt.
    • Add the wings to the marinade and mix well using a spatula or a pair of tongs.
    • Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 8 hours.
    • Once ready to grill, take the wings out of the fridge and place the bowl on the counter. Let the wings come to room temperature. Preheat the grill to medium high (about 400°).
    • Place the marinated wings on the hot grill and grill covered for about 15 minutes.
    • Check the wings and when they're charred and brown on one side, flip them so they cook on the other side for another 10-15 minutes.
    • The wings are cooked when their internal temperature registers at 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.

    Notes

    • Serving suggestions: You can serve this dish with potato salad, tomato salad or grilled vegetables.
    • Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To serve, heat the oven to 350°F and place the wings on a baking sheet. Heat the wings in the oven for 15 minutes or until they're fully heated through. 
    • I used about 2 tablespoons of chipotle sauce for this recipe which provides a good spiciness. If you would like the wings to be spicier, add more sauce to the marinade. 
    • Don't flip the wings too many times while grilling them. Let them cook on one side for about 10 minutes and once you see the skin is charred, flip them and grill them on the other side for another 15 minutes. 
    • How many chicken wings per person? I usually make about 6 to 8 wings per person. If you have teenagers or very hungry guests, it's safe to go with 10 per person.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 334kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 15gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 644mgPotassium: 181mgFiber: 1gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 150IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!

    This post was sponsored by El Yucateco. All opinions are mine. 

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    683 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Natalie

      June 17, 2022 at 4:56 am

      5 stars
      Perfect juicy marinated chicken recipe! Wow, my family really loved it, thank you!

      Reply
    2. Brandy

      June 16, 2022 at 8:33 pm

      5 stars
      My husband and I really enjoyed this. They were so tasty with just the perfect amount of kick to them! This will be a staple come game day season!

      Reply
    3. Hanna

      August 17, 2021 at 8:03 am

      5 stars
      My husband and son love, loved these wings! They're such a great flavor combo! Thanks for all the tips and tricks!

      Reply
    4. Gina

      August 17, 2021 at 5:35 am

      5 stars
      Hot sauce and honey - no better combo on chicken than that! These are the perfect wings for any occasion!

      Reply
    5. wilhelmina

      November 11, 2019 at 4:06 pm

      5 stars
      Made these for watching the game and they were a huge hit! Great recipe!

      Reply
    6. Suzy

      November 11, 2019 at 1:41 pm

      5 stars
      It could be any day of the year and grilled chicken would always be my number one way to cook chicken! I've not heard of this sauce but I do love my spicy food so checking this out!

      Reply

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